Swimmers are invited to dive into The Victory Swim – and complete 400m, 700m, 1500m or more while raising money for a bomb disposal charity and joining real-life war veterans and Invictus Games war hero.

You’ll be joining war veterans Jack Cummings and Brigadier Gareth Collett CBE for the swim, as well as founder of The Victory Swim, and bomb disposal expert, Captain James Wadsworth.

The event takes place on Thursday 6 September 2018, from 5.30pm at Waterland Outdoor Pursuits, Lake 32 Cotswold Water Park near Cirencester. 

Bomb disposal soldier Jack lost both his legs in Afghanistan and is an Invictus Games medallist. 

Jack says: “Swimming four times a week at my local pool supported me in my Invictus training and keeps me fit and focused. I’m taking part in this swim because I enjoy a challenge and events like this give me mental and physical focus.”

The swim will raise vital funds for The Felix Fund – which supports the UK’s bomb disposal experts and the wider EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) community and their families. Camping, a BBQ and refreshments plus the chance to get your hands on Felix Fund merchandise will add to the festive feel. 

Jack continues, “The Felix Fund is very important to me. The charity helped me with buying furniture for my bungalow.” 

During his second tour of Afghanistan in 2010, Jack was injured while searching for an IED. He lost both legs above the knee and sustained further injuries, and was medically discharged from the Army. Since then, he has completed numerous charity events. 

Also swimming for the charity is Brigadier Gareth Collett, a Senior Explosive Ordnance Engineer. He has been a high-threat bomb disposal operator for 25 years, in operations worldwide. 

Brigadier Collett was awarded the CBE for transforming how the UK developed and delivered counter IED operational capability, which has since set the framework and standard not just for the UK but worldwide.

Captain Wadsworth said “It’s an honour to have these two remarkable men involved in our charity swim. We’ve had a fantastic response to the event so far and we look forward to raising as much money as possible for Felix Fund, a well deserving cause.”

At just £20 per entry, participants can book their place on the swim here: https://helmtickets.com/events/1277/the-victory-swim

The lake is naturally fed and is 6ft deep. The Environment Agency assesses it for safety annually, meaning The Victory Swim is the perfect family event. 

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS 

For interviews with Jack or Gareth, contact pr@redheadpr.co.uk or call 0131 357 8977.

About Jack Cummings 

Jack joined the Royal Engineers aged 16 in 2004 and deployed on his first tour of Afghanistan in 2007/8 as part of a Royal Engineer Search Team looking for IEDs. In the Toronto Invictus Games, Jack won Bronze for 50m breaststroke. He won the Oxfordshire Disability sports award of the year in 2017. He recently competed in the Royal Marines Rehab Triathlon and won his category.

About Brigadier Gareth Collett 

Brigadier Collett CBE became Head of Special Projects in 2012, responsible to the Defence Board for force protection and countermeasure development across the land, maritime, air and space and cyber environments.
 
For editorial enquiries, contact 0131 357 8977 or email pr@redheadpr.co.uk 

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